Meiko BlueFire: the fast lane to more automation at Food & Hotel Asia in Singapore

Meiko is demonstrating maximum hygiene, improved efficiency and how to cleverly use small spaces. Their new flight type dishwashing machine achieves all of this and is on display from 25 to 28/10/2022 at South East Asia's most popular food industry trade show – FHA.

This machine is Meiko’s solution to the varying levels of demand in mass catering, as well as the tricky staffing situation. The food service world can experience it close up in hall 5 at stand 5B2-07. The Meiko M-iQ BlueFire uses increased automation to make the dishwashing area more adaptable. It also meets the vastly increased need for hygiene that came out of the coronavirus pandemic by washing dishes, cutlery and trays in a manner that meets DIN standards.

The M-iQ BlueFire combines the classic two-machine solution for washing dishes and for cutlery and trays into one multi-lane machine. This makes smart solutions possible in the smallest of spaces. It is now possible to use one machine with a much higher throughput, and that is therefore more efficient, than two separate machines.

Smart cutlery and tray processing contributes to the higher level of automation: the cutlery is demagnetised before it is washed to guarantee better cleaning and drying. The trays are washed upright to save space, moving through the machine with a contact time of over two minutes. Meiko product manager Johann Wagner had this to say:

‘Trays are washed like dishes in the M-iQ BlueFire. This means that all items are washed to DIN standards. Plus, this all takes place in a ‘two-in-one solution,’ greatly reducing operating costs and producing a first-class drying result. For us, this is a logical extension of our ‘Clean Solution Circle.’ The Circle synchronises machine, servicing, chemicals, consulting and training to meet the heightened safety needs of our customers and their customers.’

This new appliance generation also delivers better performance and reduced operating costs. According to Johann Wagner, this forward momentum is ‘part of the DNA of our company.’ Just like our work on constant process optimisation. Improved ergonomics values the people who operate the machines – and they are at the heart of all Meiko designs.

The automatic tray infeed and collection into a tray stacker post-wash, plus the integrated cutlery collection container, boost the level of automation and enable the machine to adapt to the different quantities of incoming washware without destroying efficiency. Fast and fully automatic, this system gets up to 25 trays per minute hygienically clean and ready for use! What's more, you end up with a machine that requires less cleaning. All of this increases the overall efficiency of the M-iQ BlueFire enormously compared with other current solutions on the market.

FHA attendees visiting the Meiko stand will also be able to experience more clean solutions for the food service sector, including the UPster range of machines which offer the lowest water consumption for the highest versatility, with the ability to wash reusable dishware like bottles, cups and bowls, as well as the option for food waste treatment.